Alleged Murder Weapon Focus Of Testimony In Aaron Hernandez Trial
BOSTON (CBS) -- The gun prosecutors say Aaron Hernandez used to kill two men took center stage in the ex-NFL star's double murder trial Monday.
The ex-NFL star is accused of murdering Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in the South End in 2012.
The prosecution brought in witnesses to tell the story of how the alleged murder weapon was discovered about a year after those murders.
They said it was found in an unlocked briefcase in the trunk of a car driven by Jailene Diaz-Ramos, who was in a 3-car crash on I-91 in Londmeadow on June 21, 2013.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Paul Aten described taking an inventory of Diaz-Ramos's car, and finding a revolver and three rounds of ammunition. He then identified that revolver and ammunition after they were presented in court.
Diaz-Ramos was placed under arrest after Troopers determined she didn't have a license for the gun.
Ballistics testing later linked that gun found in Diaz-Ramos's car to the shooting of Abreu and Furtado.
Prosecutors asked the Troopers if Diaz-Ramos tried to contact a friend after her arrest.
Another trooper, Joshua Winters, described entering the gun, a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver, into evidence.
Trooper Steven Lord gave some background in fingerprinting, and said no identifiable fingerprints were found on the weapon.
The courtroom became tense as defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden questioned Trooper Lord on the finer points of lifting fingerprints from guns.
Jurors were excused to lunch as a Boston Police detective testified about ballistics.
The defense asked the troopers if there was any evidence connecting Hernandez to the firearm, and troopers said there were no fingerprints or DNA evidence linking the gun to him.
Before testimony began Monday, Judge Jeffrey Locke addressed the defense's motion for a mistrial based on the Friday testimony of a witness to the shooting at the heart of the case.
The defense said a survivor of that shooting, Raychides Sanches, gave a "knowing look and head nod" in the direction of Hernandez in court Friday--and argued the shooting survivor's testimony unfairly identified Hernandez as the shooter.
Their motion for a mistrial was denied.
Jurors were also asked by Judge Locke Monday to discuss whether or not they were willing to brave the huge winter storm expected to hit the area--and as of noontime, the jury was split over whether or not to continue the trial during the nor'easter on Tuesday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
